Recalling their conversation, he told the publication: "My mum said: 'You've got to get back in contact with Zayn. Life's too f*****g short.' A mother's intuition is just f*****g crazy."

Tomlinson, who was incredibly close to Deakin, said that he didn't need to tell her that he had been secretly battling with whether he should maintain the row with the Pillowtalk hitmaker or let bygones be bygones.

He lamented: "It always felt supernatural to me. My mum always knew what I was feeling and what I wanted."

Tomlinson and Malik "met up" to iron out their differences before her passing − a move that likely would have made his mother proud. With their friendship back on track, a compassionate Malik offered his support as a grieving Tomlinson mourned his mother.

Tomlinson revealed that she also gave him the courage to perform his debut solo single live on The X Factor just days after her death. He was hailed as "brave" as he took to the stage with Steve Aoki, fighting back tears.

"She didn't swear much, my mum," Louis said. "She'd always tell me off for swearing. And this time she was like, 'You've got to f*****g do it, it's as simple as that.'"

He compared their chat to a pep talk that a football manager would give the squad ahead of a big match.

Louis Tomlinson described his mother Johannah Deakin as his best friendGetty